Letters: GOP, Clear Lake, rape kits

Copyright 2013: Houston Chronicle |
February 15, 2013

Regarding "Cantor's reversal" (Page B8, Thursday), perhaps the most mystifying self-destruction act ever by a political party - Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum jumping on Gov. Perry over the Texas DREAM Act during the televised debates.

Regarding "Space layoffs leave a void in Clear Lake" (Page A1, Monday), the spirit of exploration is strong in Bay Area Houston!

As superintendent of the Clear Creek Independent School District, which is located in the heart of the Johnson Space Center community, I am proud to say that this area continues to be a thriving place to live, learn and yes, work.

I know this because our school district has added more than 2,000 new students since 2010, new home developments continue to put a healthy strain on the capacity of elementary schools, and our volunteer force still reflects the long-held partnership between NASA and education. This has all occurred during the period in which the article called a "void." This didn't happen by chance.

Yes, we all anticipated the worst when our largest employer was forced to lay off thousands of hardworking men and women.

However, the school district, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, 13 municipalities, NASA, our faith-based partners and chambers of commerce all worked together to mitigate those losses and cushion the impact on our families and students.

In the words of former JSC Director Mike Coats, "there are three types of people in this world: Those who sit back and watch things happen, those who ask 'what just happened?', and those who make things happen."

Regarding "Not bookish on nostalgia" (Page B8, Wednesday), while the letter writer may enjoy reading via the electronic method, I am one of those who prefers to hold "dead-tree" newspapers, magazines and books in my hands. The trees are replenished so that guilt trip is moot.

If my husband's obituary hadn't been published in the "dead-tree" Houston Chronicle, many friends would not have been aware of his death and memorial service.

My "dead-tree" Bible is very personalized because of the margin notes I have written in it.

I have visited Barnes and Noble several times in the last year not only to buy books but also to buy toys for my grandchildren. I have also bought CDs there.

Maybe the writer should visit a brick-and-mortar book store; he may be surprised to see what all it sells.

Regarding "City plans to erase rape kit backlog" (Page A1, Thursday), where is the outrage on the rapes?

It's great news that the city has finally found funding to process the over 6,660 rape kits from years past, but let's not forget the reason for these rape kits.

What frustrates me is that they plan to process these 6,660 plus kits, ship 1,450 tied to active sexual assault cases, 1,020 DNA samples from other crimes, but are expecting 1,000 rape kits to be collected over the next year.

Why isn't something being done about these rapes?

Each kit represents a devastated life, not just something to be processed.

Each kit represents a rapist who has so far not been found, tried and convicted and has been able to rape again during all these years.

When are the laws and sentences going to be strengthened? These men have open season on women and children and obviously aren't afraid of the consequences.

When these men are convicted and sentenced to prison, they eventually get out, and just being labeled a sex offender doesn't seem to deter them from re-offending.

Just check out the sex offenders in your zip code. It's absolutely startling. They are everywhere. Something needs to be done.

TV reporters can't get through a week of newscasting without reporting "sexual assault."